Torch passes, Biggs to take over Barton Baseball program

The Barton Community College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Brent Biggs to take over the Baseball program at the monthly board meeting held today at the College.  A Great Bend, Kansas, native, Biggs was approved to fill the vacancy left by Mike Warren who announced his retirement earlier this month following thirty years of service leading the Cougars.

Having been an assistant coach under Warren for the past six years, Biggs will assume the head coach position for the 2014-15 season where his collegiate career began.  Playing second baseman for Barton during the 2004-2006 seasons, Biggs finished his collegiate playing career at Fort Hays State University before returning to assist the Cougars in 2008.

"Brent Biggs is an up and comer in the baseball coaching profession," said Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs.  "His passion for Barton Baseball is enormous!  Wearing the Barton uniform while playing for Coach Warren, combined with his six years as the head assistant coach here made Brent the overwhelming favorite to carry on the tradition of Barton Baseball.  I expect great things from Brent and look forward to watching him create his own legacy while coaching the Cougars!"

Starting 105 out of his 108 appearances for the Cougars, Biggs was a 1st team All-Jayhawk West second base selection his sophomore year at Barton hitting .300 to go along with his .958 fielding percentage. Biggs also earned honorable mention conference recognition his freshman season hitting .335 with a .962 fielding percentage. 

Continuing his collegiate career at Fort Hays State University, Biggs added to his postseason honors at the next level.  In his senior season Biggs led the Tigers in runs scored with 58, as well as, posting a .975 fielding percentage to earn honorable mention All-MIAA honors.

Biggs also played summer baseball during his collegiate playing career, helping the Park City Cowboys to a 7th place finish in the NBC World Series. He also earned a Rawlings Gold Glove for his play at 2nd base with the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League.  In the summer prior to returning to Barton to begin his coaching career, Biggs helped the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods League coaching the hitting and infield where he produced 3 infielders to the NWL All-Star Team in the summer of 2008.

More on Coach Warren
Warren's retirement comes at the conclusion of his 30th season at the helm of Cougar Baseball.  Contributing to Kansas baseball and his communities throughout his career, the Winfield, Kansas, native just completed his 35th overall year of coaching collegiate baseball after a successful Kansas high school and collegiate playing career.  Winning the 1972 state championship at Winfield High School, Warren played and helped Emporia State University to a third place finish at the NAIA Championships.   Beginning his coaching career at Pratt Community College then Dodge City Community College prior to Barton, Warren's career mark stands at 1001-740-1 with his retirement from Barton Baseball.  

Aiding in the development of the Jayhawk Conference Baseball Coaches Association in 1994, Warren was also elected the association's first president and initiated the first Region VI all-star game to provide national exposure for sophomores in the Kansas junior college ranks.  

Touching the lives of over 900 student-athletes and coaches, Warren's coaching tree reaches nearly fifty former players and fifteen former assistant coaches, including two members of the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame and one member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame.